NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 24: Yandy Smith (L) and Mendeecees Harris attend the 2015 Dance Theatre Of Harlem Vision Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on February 24, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)
“Love & Hip Hop: New York’s” Mendeecees Harris Has Appealed His Sentence For Drug Dealing
“Love & Hip Hop: New York’s” Mendeecees Harris family haven’t given up on their collective fight to lower his eight to ten year sentence for drug trafficking.
“Love & Hip Hop: New York’s” Yandy Smith-Harris and her mother-in-law Judy Harris, were in Manhattan Federal Appellate Court Friday where Mendeecees’ lawyer Angel Castro made oral arguments in support of his bid for for a sentence reduction.
As a panel of appellate judges listened, Castro argued that the sentencing guidelines used for Mendeecees case expired about a month after he was sentenced, and Mendeecees should have been sentenced under the new guidelines, which would have shaved about three years off of the sentence. Mendeecees’ lawyer also argued that his role in the drug ring was minor compared to others who were involved.
“When you look at his role, he basically went from Point A to Point B in New York City,” Castro said. “There was no consideration of his role compared to the other defendants.”
Castro also pointed out that Mendeecees cooperated throughout the federal investigation and has been a model prisoner in the nearly two years that he’s been incarcerated.
“It would be in the best interest of the community, so he can get back out and do what he was doing, which was talking to youth about not ending up like him,” Castro said.
But federal prosecutor Monica Richards said that Mendecees OK’d a plea agreement that barred both him and the government from changing sentence once the deal was signed.
“The plea agreement negotiated this term out,” Richards told the judges.
And one judge on the panel, the Hon. Rosemary Pooler, questioned if Mendeecees – who was referred to by his street name of “One” or “Uno” in court papers – had a larger role than what he let on.
“If his nickname was “Uno” or “One,” it’s hard to believe he had a minor role,” Judge Pooler told Castro. However, Castro said it was just a nickname.
The three panel of judges will now deliberate and issue a written decision sometime this year.
Outside court, Judy Harris said she felt unsure, but optimistic that her son would have his prison time lowered.
“Honestly, I don’t know how it went today,” July told us, “I’m hopeful…he receives a reduction.”
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